“Rock and roll is dead, God bless The 1975,” flash the LED screens as the band finish playing ‘Sex’, the final song of the night. Only bands of the biggest ego could make such a claim, and it is frontman Matty Healy’s flamboyant, ineffable charisma that allows them to own the statement. God knows why […]
Britpop
Live Review: DMA’s at Exeter Phoenix
A week of stunning, sunny weather across Exeter and the UK meant Exeter Phoenix was a glowing place to visit on a Tuesday evening – and not just because of the assembly of sunburns. A couple hundred eager music fans aggregating in one of Exeter’s favourite music venues, anticipating the arrival of Sydney’s newest up-and-coming […]
Album Review: DMA’s – For Now
DMA’s are an Australian rock band who have been receiving a lot of attention of recent. They have a very interesting cross-section of influences, ranging from alternative/indie rock, elements of shoegaze, but most importantly a strong dose of Britpop. However, despite the presence of all these genres (or possibly because of), this new, their sophomore release, […]
What’s the hype with Love Actually?
It was with a tremendous surprise to me that, when researching Love Actually, I found that it came out in 2003 to mixed reviews. The now-lauded staple of every true Englisher’s Christmas was not always the cultural sensation that it is now. Regardless, the classic status that has evolved in the decade-and-a-half since the film […]
Album Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?
As arguably Britain’s most prolific and widely respected indie songwriters, you could forgive Noel Gallagher for returning to a winning Oasis formula of mighty power ballads and thick nineties electric guitar. Swarmed by recent controversy of the seemingly never ending spat between him and sibling Liam, as well as increasing public calls for a reunion, […]
Album Review: Liam Gallagher – As You Were
Love him or hate him, no-one can deny Liam Gallagher’s huge impact on British music as the bombastic and controversial frontman of Oasis, one of the most successful bands in recent history. ‘I’m Outta Time’, one of the few songs written by Liam, on their final album Dig Out Your Soul, is one of my favourite […]
Album Review: Gorillaz – Humanz.
Gorillaz are back, and though their Plastic Beach may be behind them, they’re still making waves. Virtual waves, that is – it’s been almost twenty years since the animated feet of Gorillaz first stepped on the music scene, and the brainchild of Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett shows no signs of fatigue. That said, […]
Oh Britannia…: Is British Music Still Cool?
Two decades ago, the end of year album charts for 1997 painted a clear picture of the British music scene at the height of its Britpop era. The top ten alone included Oasis’s third album Be Here Now, after the success of its 1994 and 1995 predecessors, plus magnum opus Urban Hymns from The Verve, […]
Britpop via Australia: An Interview with DMA’s
Hype can kill a band, particularly after releasing a successful single or two. There are those who use it to thrive, just take someone like Arctic Monkeys, who back in 2005 rode a wave of online exposure, ultimately landing them with the fastest-selling debut album of all time in Britain. However, there are dozens that […]